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Thursday, July 3, 2014

It was 8 years ago that I packed the back of my truck and my friend Hilary and I took off on an adventure. We were leaving our families and friends in Iowa and headed to the great state of Texas. The last 8 years have been some of the most challenging, yet most beautiful years of my life. Austin brought so much to my life...an amazing church, an amazing ministry, an amazing community of friends and families that I have gotten to live life with, and a love for tex-mex and breafast tacos. Most of all I am thankful for Jesus and what He has done in my life over the last 8 years. He has truly changed my life in so many ways.

Over the last several months I have felt God nudge me a little, well actually...more like a big ole shove, and I started praying and surrendering my life in Austin to God, being willing to go where He wanted, do what He wanted. As I prayed, He kept laying Iowa on my heart but I started closing my arms to Him and pushing back. IOWA?!?! REALLY?!?!? I'm pretty sure I even praying something like this..."God send me to Africa, send me to Asia, the Middle East...NOT IOWA!!!" But as He kept pursuing me in my pushing back I couldn't help but see how He was confirming ALL OVER THE PLACE that I was supposed to go back to Iowa.

So...I AM MOVING BACK TO IOWA!!! It is all so bittersweet. I am so so so excited to be close to my family. I'm excited to reconnect with old friends. I'm excited for something new. BUT when I really sit and think about all that I am leaving and everyone I will be leaving here in Austin, my insides hurt a lot and I just sit and cry for a little while. This has been my home for the last 8 years.

But this is what I know...I know that I am supposed to go back to Iowa. God has so kindly confirmed this and made it so clear through His word, through my community, through my heart change, through many many different circumstances and I know that His plans are GOOD. He has something for me in Iowa and I'm excited to see what that is! Jesus is worth it. He is worth leaving my comfort here in Austin. He is worth leaving my good good friends who I do life with on a daily basis. He is worth leaving the Austin Stone Community Church where I have had some of the most amazing experiences. He is worth leaving the multitude of stores and restaurants that have spoiled me so much. He is worth leaving an amazing job where I get to love on special needs kiddos and orphans. He is worth it all. Being obedient to His calling is worth it. HARD...but worth it. I have to trust Him and choose to believe it. Lord, MAKE MY HEART BELIEVE!

So I will move July 26th! My time in Austin is coming to a close very quickly. If you think of it, please pray for me. Please pray that the details will all come together how they should and that God would continue to provide the finances I need to make this move. Pray for my heart as I am definitely grieving leaving my life here. God has been so good and so faithful in this whole process and it has made me love Him more deeply and trust Him more faithfully. For that, I am truly thankful and again...He is so worth it.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

I wrote this song with a heavy heart today as I found out a dear friend of mine was shot and killed. My heart breaks for his wife and son. I want to wrap my arms around Anita and just hold her for awhile. She has been on my heart every since I found out the news this morning. So I wrote a song to her.

Standing Beside

I know you can't see through these tears
But I'm here for you

I know you don't understand
But I know what is true

HE'S STANDING BESIDE, THE ONE WHO GAVE HIS LIFE
HIS EYES NOW SEE, WHAT WE CAN ONLY DREAM
NO TEARS, NO PAIN - NO FEARS, NO SHAME

I won't tell you time will heal
'cause your time stands still

There will be a day when you'll be there
And you'll see him again

HE'S STANDING BESIDE, THE ONE WHO GAVE HIS LIFE
HIS EYES NOW CAN SEE, WHAT WE CAN ONLY DREAM
NO TEARS, NO PAIN - NO FEARS, NO SHAME

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

So this song had me in some tears as I was writing it. Over the last several months I have had fostering/adopting on my heart so heavily. I feel the Lord is leading me towards this and I've been praying SO MUCH about this. So it has been on my heart a lot and so I thought I would write a song for my future babies.

My Dear

I am confident that you are mine
You have taken up my heart over time
Oh oh oh, ohh, ohh, oh oh

I will let the angels hold you tonight
I will trust that the timing is right
When I can hold you in my arms
And keep you safe from this world's harm

I wanna show you things that you will love
I will smile and thank the Lord above
Oh oh oh, ohh, ohh, oh oh

I will let the angels hold you tonight
I will trust that the timing is right
When I can hold you in my arms
And keep you safe from this world's harm

I wait for you, my dear
I love you so , my dear
I'm praying for you to come home, oh oh

But I will let the angels hold you tonight
I will trust that the timing is right
When I can hold you in my arms
And keep you safe from this world's harm
Oh oh oh, ohh, ohh, oh oh

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

"I have them sitting on my desk at work and I read them throughout the day. It makes working a little more enjoyable!"

"I gave them to a friend who has cancer and she was so encourage by these promises and will sit and read through them while she is getting her chemo treatment."

It has been so encouraging to hear back from people who have purchased some promise cards & scripture cards to see how God has used them! Each one has their own story and I love to see God's word be alive and active through these cards!

Christmas time is coming up and these cards could be a great gift idea...or a stocking stuffer!! Or they can be "just because"! Even if you got a bundle for yourself...that is ok too!

These new and improved cards are now at a lower price!! $15!!

So here is the deal...

It's a 4x6 index sized card

Promise Card: Truth on the front, scripture on the back. Scripture Card: Scripture reference on the front, scripture on the back.(they can also be made one-sided)

Each uniquely designed & professionally copied.

$15 for a bundle of 5 cards. (plus shipping)

Put them in your bag, use them as bookmarks, put them on your mirror, stick them on the refrigerator, put them next to your bed to read at night or in the morning, pin them on the bulletin board at work, stick them in your car...the options are endless!

Keep them for yourself or buy them for a friend!

Check out these slideshows of some examples: (each picture is front & back)

Promise Cards:

Scripture Cards:

If you are interested in purchasing a bundle, email me at emilyward527@gmail.com
I will send you a list of all the promises that you can choose from, or you can let me know if there are specific promises or verses you want...or I can make a bundle for you!

Feel free to pass this along to anyone who would be interested...blog about it...tweet about it...get the word out!

**My hope and prayer for these cards is that they would not be empty words you read over and over and over but my prayer over each card that I make is that the Spirit of God who breathes life, would move powerfully through these truths and through these scriptures to encourage, inspire and change life. He is alive and active, His word is alive and active...let HIM move your heart.**

Monday, November 5, 2012

We have a few new songs that we have been singing at church. They are SO good. I'm so thankful for the amazing songwriters that I get to work & sing with each Sunday. I learn so much from them!
Hopefully they will be on our next worship album so that y'all can get your hands on them and worship throughout the week!

I wanted to share one of them with you called, King of Love. It was written from an old hymn and with a new bridge that is so strong to end the song with...here are the lyrics:The King of love my shepherd isWhose goodness never failethI nothing lack if I am HisAnd He is mine foreverWhere streams of living water flowMy ransomed soul He leadethFrom heights above to cavern lowWith constant love He feedethCorrupt and foolish oft I strayYet in His love He sought meAnd on His shoulders gently laidHe brought me home rejoicingIn deaths dark vale I fear no illWith thee dear Lord beside meThy rod and staff my comfort stillThy cross before to guide meThou set a table in my sightAbundant grace bestowethAll of Thy kindness my delightFrom heaven's storehouse flowethAnd so through all the length of daysThy goodness faileth neverGood Shepherd may I sing Thy praise Within Thy house foreverAnd so through all the length of daysThy goodness faileth neverGood Shepherd may I sing Thy praiseWithin Thy house foreverMy lips will praiseOh King of loveWho sealed my heartFor realms above In sin and shameCame mercy's floodI run to YouOh King of love

I just love it so much. I love the picture of my Shepherd gently laying me on His shoulders and bringing me home. There have been so many times that He has come after me like this. I stray so easily. So thankful for this good Shepherd.